Secondary electric clock



(No Model.)

V. HIMMER.

SECONDARY lELEG'JRIG CLOCK.

N0. 294,4131. Patented Feb. 26, 1884.

WITN ESSES %42 UNITED STATES PATENT @Erica VITALIS HIMMER, OF NEWT YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO JOSEPH KOENIGSBERG, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ECTRIG CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 294,131, dated February 2G, 188%.

Application tiled Apr T0 all zzz/tom, it may con/cern.-

Be it known that LVITALTsHIMMER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Secondary Electric Clocks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improve ments in the construction of clock mechanisms the movements of which are controlled through the action of electro-magnets periodically vitalized by electric currents automatically transmitted therethrough.

The object of the invention is to simplify the vconstruction of secondary clocks of this char aeter, and to secure accuracy and reliabilityin the movements of the same.

rEhe invention comprises certain means for adjusting the positions of the electro-magnet and its armature relative to each other, and devices for communicating themovements of the armature to a system of wheels for actuating the hands of the clock, and for reducing to a minimum the friction of the moving parts, thereby decreasing` the motive power required for actuating the same.

rlhe invention also comprises certain details of construction, which willbe hereinafter fully described. i

In the accompanying drawings, which illus trate my invention, Figure lis a front elevation of a secondary clock embodying the fea-- tures of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section; and Fig. Sis a rear ele- 35 vation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a supporting-frame for the various parts of the mechanism. The minute and hour hand wheels d and d* are revolved in their proper relative periods through the intervention of a system of wheels actuated'by an electro-magnet, M, in a manner hereinafter described. The electro-magnet M is adjustably supported upon aplate, a, of the frame A by means of a set-screw, m", extending through an elongated aperture, m2, in the plate, and into a nut, mi, formed in a bracket, m", rigidly attachedto the electro -magnet `Two pins, m5 m5, project from the bracket on* through the slot m in the 5o platea, and prevent any other than a longiil 6, (No model.)

tudinal movement of the elcctremagnet for the purpose of adj nstment.

, In front ofthe poles of the electromagnet Ill is placed an armature, N, which is pivoted at one extremity, n, in a suitablebracket, n', em-

bracing the extremity ot' the arl'nature. A right-angled extensiomo, of the bracket prevents a lateral movement ot' the armature upon its pivot n. The pivot 11F', which supA ports the armature N, extends through the bracket upon both sides of the armature, and

is seeurelyheadcd over,to prevent its displace ment. The bracketn. is itself adj ustably sup ported upon the plate c of the frame A by means of a pin, as, projecting from the face of the bracket adjacent to the plate, and extending through an aperture, a", formed therein.

The aperture `nis of such size as to permit the entrance of the pin n, and at the same time prevent any lateral movement ofthe bracket with reference to the plate a. A set-screw,

a5, is provided for binding the bracket in any required angular position. rlhe screw it screws into a nut, n, formed in the adjacent face of the bracket n', after passing through an aperture, fn, in the plate a, which aperture is of greater diameter than the shank of the screw. A washer, as, is preferably placed between the head of the screw and the cuter face of the plate a, for the purpose oi' preventing the latter from entering the aperture.

It will be understood from an inspection of the drawings that if the bracket a be turned up on the pin a" as a center the pivoted extremity of the armature willbe carried toward or away from the confronting pole of the electromagnet M. IIL/'hen the armature has thus been placed in the desired proximity of the electromagnet, it is secured in such position by means ofthe screw of. The aperture n, instead of being round, may be in the form or au arc of a circle, the center of which coincides with thev pin ai.

A resilient arm, F, is attached to the armature N, preferably by means of a screw, 7". An

adjusting-screw, f, extends through this arm and abuts the adjacent face of the armature. By turning the screw j" to a greater or less distance through the iiexiblc arm F, the latter may be sprung away from the armature tc a IOO greater or less degree, as required for the purpose of adjustment, as hereinafter rendered apparent. The lower extremity of the arm or armature-lever F is preferably turned back upon itself, as shown at f2, and the hook thus formed embraces a yoke,l g, carried upon an arbor, G." The yoke g' preferably consists of a stout wire loop, the extremities of which are securely fastened within the arbor G. lt may, however, consist of a solid plate provided with two projections extending through the arbor and riveted in the same manner as the ends of the wire loop.

It will now be understood that each time the velectro-magnet M is vitalized and the armature N is drawn into proximity to its poles the arbor G will be rotated through an arc dependent upon the movement of the armature. The armature is normally held away from the poles of the magnet through the iniiuence of gravity, acting through a lever and weight, hereinafter described, to rotate the arbor Gin the direction opposite to that in which it is actuated by the vitalization of the electro-magnet. The lever last referred to is employed for communicating the retrograde movements of the armature N to the system of wheels D. The lever consists of an arm, H, rigidly mounted upon the arbor G, and carrying a pawl, h, and stop h. The pawl .7L is supported near the extremity of the arm H in a bracket formed by turning a portion of the arm back upon itself, the pawl being pivoted between the body of the arm and the portion thus bent. The pin if, which forms the pivot for the pawl, is preferably headed over at both extremities, to prevent it from being accidentally displaced. The movements imparted to the arbor'G by the vibrations of the armature N will convey to the pawl 7L a sufficient movement to cause the end thereof which rests upon the periphery ofthe first wheel, d, of the system D to advance the same through an arc snbtended by a single tooth at each vibration. The number of teeth upon the wheel d is so arranged with reference to the remaining wheels of the system that if the electro-magnet be vitalized at regular intervals of time-for example, once per minute or once per second-the hands of the clock will be caused to move over the dial at the proper rate to indicate the correct time.

The stop or detent h is provided for preventing the momentum obtained bythe wheel d through the action of the pawl 7L from causing the same to advance more than one tooth at each impulse. For this purpose the stop 7L is constructed to enter the space between two adjacent teeth and engage a tooth of the wheelwhen` the lever H is actuated in the direction opposite to that in which it is impelled through the influence of the electro-magnet M. lt will not, however, so enter and engage a tooth until the wheel d has been advanced through the space occupied by a tooth and an intervening space by the action of the pawl. In the drawings l have represented the stop 7L as formed by striking out a portion of the arm H and bending it atright .angles to the length of the arm. In some instances, however, it may be found desirable to construct this stop of a separate piece of metal secured to the lever in any suitable manner.

For the purpose of preventing a retrograde movement of the wheel d, a dog, 7L?, is provided, the extremity of which rests upon the periphery of the wheel d and norm ally engages the opposite side of the tooth at any time engaged by the stop h. The dog h2 is pivoted in a bracket, 7L", by means of a pin, extending through an arm of the bracket upon each side of the dog, and the extremities of the pin are preferably headed over. rlhe bracket h3 is secured in the proper position above the wheel d upon the `plate a of the frame A by means of a screw or rivet, h, which permits of a lateral adjustment of the pawl. A suitable stop, h, is provided for limiting the movement of the lever H. The arm F is made flexible, as before mentioned, and the object of this construction is to permit the armature to slightly approach the electro-magnet independently of the movement of the arm H, when the movement of lthe latter has been arrested. This movement of the armature will cause the arm F to bend slightly, and the resilience of the same will act to impel the armature away from the poles of the electro-magnet immediately upon the cessation of the current traversin its coils.

For the purpose of adjusting the mechanism as may be necessary to compensate for the weight of the hands and similar contingen- "cies, an extension, J, is provided for the lever H, upon which is placed a movable weight, j. This extension and weight act as a counterpoise for the lever and its pawl, and by means of it the pa-rts may be nicely adjusted for effecting the retraction of the armature N and the advance movement of the hands. A similar extension, J', may be provided at the opposite extremity, which extension is to be employed when considerable force is required to actuate the mechanism. ln employing this extension J, the weight j is to be removed from the extension J and placed in the required position upon the extension J', the essential feature of the adjustment being that the effect of the counterbalanciiig-weight be sufficient to occasion an advance movement of the hands of the clock.

For the purpose of rendering the friction between the moving parts as slight as possible, the contact-surface of the arbor d ofthe wheel d is reduced in the following manner: One extremity of the arbor is provided with a bearing, d2, in the plate a, in the usual manner. The opposite extremity extends through the hollow axle d3 of the hour-hand wheel di. In-

stead, however, of bearing upon the interior of this axle throughout its entire length, in the usual manner, I form the greater portion of the arbor of such size that it will not touch the inner surface of the hollow axle d3 at any point IOO iro

other than near its outer extremity, the arbor being there provided with an annular enlargement, d, of such size as to afford it a suitable bearing. rlhis construction not only greatly reduces the friction, but affords a firm support for the wheel d at each extremity ofthe arbor, and renders it much easier to oil the same when necessary. rlhe extremity k ofthe arbor d', projecting through the plate a, is preferably made square, for receiving a suitable keyT when it is desired to set the hands ofthe clock. For the purpose of morereadily applying the key to the post 7c thus formed, a guide, r, surrounds the saine, and extends outward to such a distance as may be necessary. The guidet" preferably consists of a tube, the inner end of which is secured to the plate a, while the outer end is cut open any required distance and the sections bent away from each other, A

forming a funnel-shaped guide. A

The dial ofthe clock is secured to the plate a of the frame A by means of screws entering three equidistant hollow nuts, ci, ci, and 0*, formed upon the face of the plate. These nuts are made equidistant, for the purpose of rendering it less difficult to determine the points at which the apertures for receiving the screws are to be formed in the dial than in the ordinary construction, in which the nuts'are not placed at regular distances.

In the drawings I have represented a train of wheels, p q fr, for revolving a calendar-hand (not shown) in front of the dial for indicating the days of the month. The wheel p is for this purpose rigidly mounted upon the quill d ofthe hour-han d wheel dt, and carries twentyfour teeth. These teeth engage the teeth of the wheel q, which are forty-eight in number, causingit to revolve onceintwenty-four hours. From the face of the wheel q projects apin, q', which once i-n each revolution engages the wheel r, causing it to advance one tooth. The numberof teeth on the wheel r is thirty-One, and the step-by-step motion thus imparted is employed for indicating upon a dial the successive days of the month, in a manner well understood.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the toothed wheel, the pawl and lever for actuating the same through the inuence of gravity, the electro-magnet, its armature and armature-lever, for actuating said pawl and lever in the direction opposite to that in which they are actuated by gravity, and one or more pins, and the set-screw for adjusting the position of said electro-magnet with reference to said armature.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the electro-magnet, the adjustably-supported armature, the flexible armature-lever, the train of wheels, the lever and pawl for actuating said train of wheels, the arbor for supporting said lever, and a mechanical connection between said arbor and armature-lever, comprising a yoke or plate secured to said arbor and an extension of said armature-lever embracing bot-l1 sides of said yoke or plate.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of an armature and armature-lever, an electro-magnet for actuating said armature and armature lever, a lever supported independently of said armature-lever and actuated in one direction by the movements of said armature-lever and in the opposite direction by the force of gravity, an arm and an adjustable weight supported thereon for modifying the active influence of gravity upon said lever, a pawl carried upon said lever, and a train of wheels actuated by said pawl and lever when the latter responds to the action of gravity.

.4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the train of wheels, the pawl and lever actin g, when actuated in a given direction by force of gravity, to advance said train of wheels, means, substantially such as described, for actuating said lever in the opposite direction, an adjustable weight for modifying the active influence exerted by gravity upon said lever, and two arms or extensions, respectively extending upon opposite sides of the supporting-arbor of said lever, each of which arms is adapted to receive said adjustable weight.

5. rlhe combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a toothed wheel, of a propelling -lever constructed from a single piece of metal and provided with a brzcket for supporting a pawl, a stop or detent forengaging the teeth of said wheel, and an arm for receiving an adjustable weight, said bracket, stop, and arm being each integral with said lever.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed lny name this 5th day of April, A. D. 1883. Y

VITALIS HIMHER.

IVi tnesses:

j DANIEL W. Enencoarn,

Cuantas A. TERRY.

IOO 

